Machinery Journal

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Manufacturers Partner in Joplin Recovery

May 22, 2012

One year ago an EF5 multiple vortex tornado ripped through southwest Missouri and the city of Joplin. The city’s emergency manager reported that up to 20% of the city was destroyed, and more than 160 people were killed.

The recovery effort has been ongoing and it’s interesting that two equipment manufacturers have been part of a notable partnership to restore and rebuild Joplin.

Over the past year, Vermeer Corporation and Immanuel Lutheran Church of Joplin have been involved with extensive stump grinding and debris removal in some of the hardest hit areas. Recently, Kubota Tractor Corporation joined Vermeer in a tree planting effort to fill the voids with new trees with both equipment and volunteers.

Although the original plan was for volunteers to plant 50 trees, they ended up planting more than 90 oak, maple and locust trees in neighborhoods hit hardest by the storm. The community beautification effort represents a step toward restoring the landscape to its original beauty and revitalizing the hope of its residents.

The use of equipment for the tree planting effort was provided by Vermeer Corporation, Pella, IA and local the Kubota dealer, Springdale Tractor, Springdale, AR. The trees were supplied by Forrest Lawn Nursery, Jonesburg, MO. And overall, the event funding was provided by the Vermeer Charitable Foundation.